My home is a layered jumble of objects gathered and given, full of memories of all the people who have lived and visited and learned within its walls. It is always such a pleasure to return home after time away, because I am comforted by the familiarity of the blankets and dishes and pictures and books that my favorite people have handled and shared. Our tables are especially important to me …
Years ago, while I was rummaging through an antique mall in Texas, an old tea cart seemed to speak my name. The flaps lift up to make it more than a cart—a small table. When I open the tiny leaves, I have room for two place settings, a tiny vase of flowers, and a small candle. I keep it between two overstuffed chairs in my den for a private time with one other person. (Sometimes tables need to be small, to invite one-on-one confidences.) Our coffee table has held countless bowls of popcorn and cups of hot cocoa. The coasters on our end tables invite confidences over warm drinks. Bedside tables in our rooms often hold cookies and tea during a private time. So do the little tables beside our rockers on the porch.
If my table—my tables!—could talk, I wonder what tales they would tell.
A story of Vision and commitment
Souls are shaped in the common moments of life, the daily stuff of memories.
If my table could talk, I know it would tell of moments like those— toddlers happily munching on bits of food and Cheerios scattered over plastic placemats. Birthday breakfasts with cinnamon rolls, mugs of hot tea, and morning presents companioned by words of love and appreciation. Warm soup and stories shared on cold winter nights. Sunday afternoon teatimes with James Herriott’s animal stories read dramatically. Countless lively discussions about morality and worldview as we filled up growing teenage bodies with satisfying food.
But souls grow by season as well. As we celebrate the passage of time by establishing and commemorating joyful traditions, honoring milestones (however small), cultivating a taste for greatness through the stories shared, books read, memories made, and faith lived out, we also make a path for growth and development. Godly legacies are built, in other words, when we bring the life of Christ to the table through the grace of loving relationships and intimacy shared moment by moment. This is the essence of table discipleship. But doing it well requires both vision and commitment.
